PROTECTION FROM PREDATORS - Limiting Predator Access

Proper box depth, roof, and entrance hole design will help minimize predator (raccoons, cats, opossums, and red squirrels) access to birds living in your birdhouses. Sometimes all it takes is an angled roof with a three-inch overhang to discourage mammals.

The entrance hole is the only thing between a predator and a bird house full of nestlings. By itself, the 3/4" wall isn't wide enough to keep out the arm of a raccoon or house cat.  Add a predator guard a 3/4 inch thick rectangular wood block, to thicken the wall, and you'll discourage sparrows, starlings, and cats.

Cats  
Nesting birds are very vulnerable to cats, as are fledglings and birds roosting for the night.  Bell collars on cats offer birds little protection.  Nailing a sheet metal guard or cone to a tree trunk is unsightly, but it may deter less agile felines.  Birdhouses mounted on metal poles are the most difficult for predators to reach, especially if you smear the poles with a petroleum jelly and hot pepper mixture.

Dogs
Pet dogs are a hazard to nestlings in the spring and summer.  All it takes is one swift bite and the baby bird is gone.  Don't let your dog run loose during nesting time.

Squirrels 
Red squirrels, and sometimes gray squirrels, can become a serious menace to bird houses and the birds themselves.  If you find your nest hole enlarged, chances are a red squirrel is the culprit. Once inside the box, squirrels make a meal of the eggs and young.   Adding a predator guard of sheet metal to the entrance hole is usually enough to keep squirrels out.

Raccoons and Opossums
Raccoons and opossums will stick their arms inside nest boxes and try to pull out the adult, young, and eggs. Adding a predator guard to the bird house or to its pole support is a simple solution.

Snakes
Snakes are an important part of the natural balance between predator and prey.  If you find one of these reptiles in your bird house, please don't kill it.  Snake-proof your house by putting it on a metal pole lathered with a petroleum jelly or hot red cayenne pepper.

European Starlings and House Sparrows  
If you don't discourage them, these two pest species introduced from Europe will bully or kill cavity-nesting birds.  Since house sparrows and starlings are not protected by law, you may destroy their nests.  But, remember, other birds are protected by law.

 

House Wrens
Sometimes house wrens interfere with the nesting success of other birds by puncturing their eggs.  But unlike the sparrow and starling, these birds are part of the natural system. They are protected by law.  Don't be tempted to intervene.

 


Insects
Many insects lay their eggs and pupate in bird houses. You should inspect your bird houses for signs of gypsy moths, blow flies, wasps, ants, gnats, and bees.  You can keep bees and wasps from attaching their nests by coating the inside of the roof with bar soap. In areas where gypsy moths abound, avoid placing boxes in oak trees, which are favored by the gypsy moths.

Pyrethrin and rotenone insecticides are recommended for killing fly larvae, bird lice, and mites.  Use only after the birds have finished nesting for the season.

I hope the information we have been providing in our blog has helped you to enjoy your bird watching.  Please feel free to add any tips or tidbits of information for our readers. If you have an interest in adding to your birdhouse or bird feeder collection, visit our website at www.aboutbirdhouses.com. 

Birdhouse Maintainance

There are several maintenance items you should be aware of to make your birdhouses safe and comfortable for its’ occupants.  Here are a few:

Ventilation

Without air vents, boxes can turn into bird ovens. The two best ways to provide ventilation are to  leave gaps between the roof and sides of the box, or drill 1/4" holes just below the roof.  Remember our homes have ventilation vents to help with air in our homes.

Drainage

Water can become a problem when it sits in the bottom of the bird house.  A roof with sufficient slope and overhang offers some protection.  Drilling the entrance hole on an upward slant may also help keep the water out.

Regardless of design, driving rain will get in through the entrance hole.  You can assure proper drainage by cutting away the corners of the box floor and drilling 1/4 inch holes in the box floor. Nest boxes will last longer if the floors are recessed about 1/4 inch.

Entrance Hole

Most entrance and exit holes on the front panel near the top.  A rough surface both inside and out makes it easier for the adults to get into the box and, when it's time, for the nestlings to climb out.

If your box is made of finished wood, add a couple of grooves outside below the hole.  Open the front panel and add grooves, cleats, or wire mesh to the inside.   Never put up a bird house with a perch below the entrance hole.  Perches offer starlings, house sparrows, and other predators a convenient place to wait for lunch.

Don't be tempted by those beautiful duplexes or houses that have more than one entrance hole. With the exception of purple martins, cavity-nesting birds prefer not to share their birdhouse. While these condos look great in your yard, starlings and house sparrows are the only birds inclined to use them.

Accessibility

Bird houses should be easily accessible so you can see how your birds are doing and, when the time comes to clean out the house.  Part of being a responsible birdhouse landlord is your willingness to watch out for your tenants. Monitor your bird houses every week and evict unwanted creatures: house sparrows, starlings, rodents, snakes, and insects.

Be careful when you inspect your bird boxes. You may find something other than a bird inside. Don't be surprised to see squirrels, a mouse, a snake, or insects. Look for fleas, flies, mites, larvae, and lice in the bottom of the box.

If you find insects and parasites, your first reaction may be grab the nearest can of insect spray. If you do, use only insecticides known to be safe around birds: 1% rotenone powder or pyrethrin spray. If wasps are a problem, coat the inside top of the box with bar soap.

Take care of your birdhouses and enjoy the tenants.  To see many great looking birdhouses go to www.aboutbirdhouse.com.  See you in the next post.

What You Should Know About Brids and Their Birdhouses

It doesn't matter where you live -- in an apartment, townhouse, or single family dwelling, in the city, suburbs or country. Just stand still and you'll hear them: wild birds. It's hard to imagine life without them.Bird watching is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the country. 

It's easy to understand why. Birds are fun to watch.  And you can watch them just about everywhere. The most convenient place to start is right in your own backyard. All it takes to get their attention is water, food, and a place to build a nest. 

This information is designed to help you build or buy suitable birdhouse or nesting boxes--for birds. Your success in attracting birds will depend on what you know about birds and the birdhouse design.  Here’s what you need to know to get started:

• which birds nest in houses
• basics of bird-house construction
• proper placement
• good maintenance
• how to deal with predators
• monitoring. 

In future posts we will talk about each of these items.  In the meantime checkout this website www.aboutbirdhouses.com.

About House Birds

The habit of nesting in bird houses has been adopted by individuals of many species which would not ordinarily be expected to make use of such homes, and this may be taken as indicating that it will become more general from year to year as facilities are afforded and as the number of birds hatched in houses increases.

That western wrens and bluebirds should take as naturally to artificial shelters as did their eastern relatives was to be expected. On the other hand, the use of houses by birds which until recently had persistently ignored them is surprising and must be considered a victory for those who have studiously attempted to enlarge their circle of feathered neighbors.

Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and titmice excavate their own houses, usually new ones each year, leaving the old homes to less capable architects. Builders of artificial houses generally go to the woodpecker for designs, and by varying styles to suit the tastes of different kinds of birds, have been rewarded by such tenants as chickadees, tufted titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, Bewick wrens and Carolina wrens, violet-green swallows, crested flycatchers, screech owls, sparrow hawks, and even some of the woodpeckers, the master builders themselves.

Flickers readily accept houses built according to their standards. Red-headed woodpeckers are willing occupants of artificial houses, and even the downy woodpecker, that sturdy little-carpenter, has, in one instance at least, deemed such a home a satisfactory abode in which to raise a family.

Shelters having one or more sides open are used by birds which would never venture into dark houses suited to woodpeckers. They have been occupied by robins and brown thrashers, and, in one instance, by a song sparrow.

The number of house birds may be still further augmented as time goes on. All of the commoner woodpeckers are likely to be included, as are several of the small owls and wrens, and a few of the wild ducks, as the golden-eye. The wood duck is already known to use nesting boxes.

Houses set close to streams in the western mountains will probably be occupied by ousels or dippers. Florida grackles sometimes breed in flicker holes and may be expected to occupy houses now and then. In every locality having trees there is a group of birds ready to appropriate houses when they have the opportunity.

Blue Bird Birdhouses

A Bluebird belongs to a group of brightly colored thrushes related to the Robin and native to North America. Bluebirds live in open country that contains scattered trees, usually in old farmlands or orchards. They nest in tree holes or man made boxes which they line with fine grass.

The female Bluebird lays three to seven pale blue or white eggs at a time and may have two or three broods a year. Both parents care for their young that remain in the nest for 15 – 19 days. Bluebirds feed on caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers and many other insects that may be harmful to crops. When insects are not available in large numbers during winter, Bluebirds eat berries.

Providing water in the form of birdbaths encourages Bluebirds to stick around the backyard. They are quite partial to the sound of dripping water and have no specific preference whether it is a commercial dropper or a self-provided water device. A suitable birdhouse will convince them to stay and nest.

Blue Bird Birdhouses

Check out our birdhouses at www.aboutbirdhouses.com.

Bird House Tips

How to Choose the Right Bird House Decorative Bird House Styles Painted bird houses come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. Some have a whimsical decorative theme, and others are made of plain wood and painted to blend in with their surroundings. The style of blue bird house you choose is entirely up to you. Just make sure it's appropriate for your climate and your birds. Various Species, Various Bird Houses The size and shape of your bird house should be determined by the type of species you wish to attract. The list below shows a sampling of what type of birdhouses are needed by each species.

• Purple martins are the largest members of the swallow family. A purple martin house should measure at least 6 inches across on the inside, and should have an entry hole of about two and a half inches in diameter. Purple martin houses should be painted white on the outside.

Bird Condos

• Wrens aren't picky about their homes and will nest in small, plain houses. A wren house is usually quite simple and fairly small on the inside. Make sure the entry holes measure about 1 inch in diameter to let the wrens in and keep predators out.

Wren Birdhouse

• Chickadees and nuthatches prefer homes that simulate natural environments, so a bird house made from wood or unfinished bark is best. They prefer Chickadee bird houses that are deep and narrow, with entrance holes at the top so that they can nest in the bottom and feel safe.

Chickadee Birdhouse

If you're unsure what type of cardinal bird house you need, try to determine what birds live in your area and what kind you wish to attract. Or choose a general songbird house that is designed for various species.  Check out our other birdhouses at www.aboutbirdhouses.com

Wren Birdhouses

One of the easiest and quickest ways to attract birds is to provide birdhouses for them to nest in.  These simple structures provide nesting grounds for birds in your backyard.  Birdhouses make it easier for your whole family to observe and enjoy bird watching. Wrens are among the most beautiful birds to watch but to attract them it requires specific nesting conditions.

Although these birds are found all across the Americas, their habitats range from dry sparse woods to the rain forest and they will only nest under specific conditions. Of course, meeting these conditions is critical for establishing a nest in your yard. Male Wrens will typically build multiple nests for a mate in order to increase the chances of the female finding a suitable location among them. This means you will have a better chance for attracting a Wren if you set up multiple birdhouses for them to choose from. Wrens also prefer cover so locating the birdhouse behind shrubbery may prove to be a more attractive nesting area.

Your birdhouse or birdhouses should be located between four and 10 feet from the ground. They should also be partially shaded. Typically a 1 1/4 inch entrance hole will be utilized located 6 inches above the floor of the birdhouse. Unlike most birdhouses a perch is not necessary and shouldn’t be used. In fact, this could prove to be detrimental because predators could use the perch for access to the nest. Many bird people recommend mounting the nest with wire from a tree branch or other overhang that will allow the nest to swing. Here are several nice looking wren birdhouses:

Little Wren House White

Christmas Wren Cottage- Removable Wreath Detail

Little Wren House Yellow

Wrens will typically arrive in April and have 2 to 3 broods per season. Each brood will require approximately 30 days to mature and leave the nest. If you live near the equator you will likely end up with Wrens wintering near you instead of arriving in the spring so adjust your setup according to your location. Following these simple tips will ensure you attract and maintain many Wrens throughout the life of your birdhouse. These beautiful creatures are sure to delight friends and family. They can be excellent garden helpers, disposing of potentially harmful and bothersome pests. Their singing is a pleasant reminder of their presence and is sure to entertain. There are many reasons to attract Wrens and building the perfect birdhouse is the best way to accomplish this.

See several interesting birdhouses

Birdhouses are available in a wide variety of designs and colors.  This creates an interesting environment for you yard and for our feathered friends.  Check out these unique birdhouses on our new online store.

These are just a couple of samples from our wide collection of birdhouses